Apparatus for producing optical patterns

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for producing optical patterns of digitally encoded information to be photographed along with other information. The patterns of digital data used for frame identification in microfilm photography or for other purposes are provided by means of a coding matrix including a number of lamps individually mounted in recessed chambers beneath a portion of the reflective surface of a front-illuminated supporting member on which the pages of text or other information are received for photographing. The interior of each recessed chamber is nonreflective so that each chamber is photographed as a black area when the corresponding lamp is not illuminated and is photographed as an illuminated area optically indistinguishable from the illuminated background provided by the reflective surface when the lamp is illuminated.

i United States Patent 1 1 Tucker et a].

[54] APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL PATTERNS [75] Inventors: John R. Tucker, Alpharetta, 6a.; Raymond R. Williams, Marietta, Ga.

I [73] Assignee: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation,

Burbank, Calif.

[22] Filed: Feb. 4,1971

21 Appl. No.: 112,608

[52] US. Cl ..95/1.l, 40/132 D [51] Int. Cl. .....G03b 17/24 58] Field of Search .95/1.l; 40/132 D, 130 D, 130 E [56] I References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,931,027 3/1960 Blefary et al. '....40/l 30 E X 3,282,176 1 11/1966 Morse et a1 ..95/l.1 3,334,539

8/1967. Kleist et al ..95/1.1 X

1 51 Jan. 16,1973

Primary Examiner--Samuel S. Matthews Assistant ExaminerKenneth C. l-lutchison Att0rneyRoger T. Frost and George C. Sullivan [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for producing optical patterns of digitally encoded information to be photographed along with other information. The patterns of digital data used for frame identification in microfilm photography or for other purposes are provided by means of a coding matrix including a number of lamps individually mounted in recessed chambers beneath a portion of the reflective surface of a front-illuminated supporting member on which the pages of text or other information are received for photographing. The interior of each recessed chamber is nonreflective so that each chamber is photographed as a black area when the 'corresponding lamp is not illuminated and is photographed as an illuminated area optically indistinguishable fromthe illuminated background provided by the reflective surface when the lamp is illuminated.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL PATTERNS This invention relates in general to apparatus for producing optical patterns and in particular to apparatus for producing optical patterns .containing digital data to be photographed in conjunction with pictorial or other information.

.complished by associating with each frame a unique digital optical pattern which identifies the location or addredd of the particular frame and which additionally may contain other digitally encoded information, such as the type of information on the associated pictorial portionof the film frame and the direction of film traverse required to'reach a particular location on the film. The digital information on each frame is read by suitable optical apparatus, known to those skilled in the art, as the film is traversed through a viewing apparatus which may be equipped with automatic controls connected to stop the film drive mechanism when a preselected frame of film is appropriately positioned.

While the visual portion of each film frame can be obtained simply by photographing the desired material, applying the proper digital code patterns to each frame can present difficulties. For example, if the visual material to be photographed consists of the conventional black-print-on-white-paper, which is frontlighted and photographed, prior attempts to simultaneously photograph the digital code patterns by position- I ing and selectively illuminating a pattern of lamps adjacent the visual material have not been satisfactory because the intense illumination required to cause proper photographic reproduction of the visual material tends to wash out the visual difference between the digital encoding lamps that are "on, representing a first digital state, and the lamps which are off, representing a second digital state. Prior attempts to overcome this problem have involved modifying the camera to enable the digital code illumination to be applied to each frame of film through an opticalpath or device separate from the camera lens system used to photograph the visual information. While devices such as fiber-optic elements or auxiliary lens systems have been used to transmit the digital data to the film in the camera, such expedients suffer the disadvantage that conventional microfilm-type cameras, which are otherwise usable to photograph the visual information, cannot be used to photograph the combined visual-digital information without being extensively modified with an auxiliary optical system as aforementioned.

Accordingly, itis an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for producing optical patterns.

Another object of this invention is. to provide improved apparatus for producing optical digital patterns.

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for producing optical digital patterns which can 4 be photographed in conjunction'with other graphic information.-

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for producing optical digital patterns having distinct contrasting digital states resistant to being washed out when the digital pattern is externally illuminated.

The foregoing objects, as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention, will be apparent from consideration of the following description wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and I FIG. 2 is an elevation partial section view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Stated generally, each digital element of the digital matrix according to the present invention includes a lamp which provides illumination to a nonrefiective chamber recessed beneath an illuminated reflective surface on which the pictorial or other information is disposed to be photographed. An aperture in the reflective surface is positioned to correspond to the position of that digital element in the overall digital matrix.

More specifically, and with reference taken to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown photographic apparatus indicated generally at 10 and including a base member 11 having a reflective surface 12 on which the information 13 to be photographed may be placed. One or more sources of illumination 14 are mounted to illuminate the surface 12 and the sheet 13 sufficiently to permit the camera 15 to photograph the sheet.

The camera 15 is selected and positioned to photograph an area on the surface 12 outlined at 19 and including a digital matrix 20 made up ofa plurality of individual digital elements 21. The individual digital elements 21 are arranged according to a desired pattern to provide the requisite frame identification and other information in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

Each of the individual elements 21, as shown in FIG. 2, include an aperture 22 in the surface 12 opening into a chamber 23 disposed beneath the surface 12. Each of the chambers 23 is operative to reflect back to the camera 15 little or none of the illumination which enters the aperture 22 from the sources 14, and this is accomplished by rendering the interior of the chamber 23, including the walls 24 and 25, nonrefiective by any suitable technique such as by covering the interior of the chamber 23 with a nonrefiective black coating or the like.

At the end of the chamber 23 opposite the aperture 22 there is an end wall 26 which is made of a translucent or transparent material such as frosted glass or the like and which separates the chamber 23 from a lamp chamber 27. A source of illumination such as the lamp 28 is positioned to cast illumination in the lamp chamber 27. To enhance the nonrefiective quality of I each chamber 23, the depth 29 of each chamber should be selected along with the width of the chamber and the width of each aperture 22 so that most if not all of the illumination which enters the aperture 22 from the sources of illumination 14 strikes the nonrefiective walls 24 or 25, rather than the end wall 26'.

In considering the operation of the depicted embodiment of the present invention, assume that one or more sources of illumination 14 are directing light toward the reflective surface 12 and an item 13 positioned thereon to be photographed, along with a particular pattern of digital information displayed on the digital matrix 20,

by the camera 15. If the'particular digital code for the item being photographed calls for the digital element corresponding to the aperture 22 to be black, the lamp 26 is not illuminated. 'llluinination entering the aper- 't ure 22 from the sources 14 is trapped in the chamber 23 due to the nonreflective qualities of that chamber, and so'the area of the aperture 22 is photographed as a black area contrasted with the bright background presented by the reflective surface 12', which may be supplying power from a suitable source. The illumination from the lamp 28 passes through the endwall 26 j'separating the lamp chamber 27 from the chamber 23 'and thenpasses through the aperture 22 outwardly toward the lens of the camera 15. The illumination passing through theend wall 26 and the aperture 22 is seen by the camera along with; illumination reflected from the surface 12, and the. illumination emanating from the aperture 22 is substantially indistinguishable from the illumination reflected from the surface. 12 back toward the camera lens. The digital element 2 represented by theaperture 22 thus is photographed by the cameraas a white element, i.e., an element at the opposite end of the illumination scale from the black to provide the digital code which is'required for a par- .ticular photographed item. Anindividualelectrical switch for. each of the lamps can be .provided, for example, so thatthe operator can set up the desired digital code by manipulating the switches corresponding to the various digital elements. This method of operation may becumbersome, however, and it iswithin the abili- .ty of oneof ordinary skill in" theart to operate the various digital element lamps under the control of input data contained on punched cards, magnetic tape, per- 'forated tape, or the like, 'on which the data corresponding to the digital code to be used with the items being photographed hasbeen previously stored.

' It should be'understood, of course, that the foregoing relates" to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that" numerous modifications or alternations may be made therein'without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Whatis claimedisz- I li'Apparatus for producing a selective optical pattern matrix presentation of coded digital data at a surface having illumination impinging thereoncomprising:

said surface havinga plurality of apertures defining an optical pattern matrix presenting area on said surfaceand within the illumination impinging area of saidv surface,

an individual chamber means in optical communication with eachsaid aperture, each chamber means -comprisin"g a nonreflective chamber portion 'detined by wall members at least'some of which i are "substantially nonreflective to minimizereflection out of said aperture of any surface impinging illumination which enters said-aperture, and

illumination means contained in each chamber means within a lamp chamber portion in optical communication with said chamber means non reflective portion to selectively supply illumination thereto which is visible at said surface'through said aperture when said illumination is lit, said selective supply of illumination and'lack thereof at said'surface for each chamber means enabling the selective optical pattern to be presented atsaid surface.

'2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said surface is substantially reflective of illumination which impinges thereon.

v3. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said lamp chamber portion is separated from said nonreflective chamber portion by an illumination transmissive member.

4. Apparatus as in claim tive chamber portion is disposed beneath said surface in optical alignment with said aperture; and

said lamp chamber portion isdisposed beneath said nonreflective chamber portion in optical alignmatrix, a camera located a'distance spaced from the reflective surface and directed towardthe reflective surface for record making" purposes,an d a source of illumination-directd toward the surface to illuminate thedata,the.improvement comprisingz' said reflective surface having a plurality of apertures therein at a location corresponding to the matrix of digital code elements to be recorded by the camera from said reflective surface; I

' each said aperture being in optical communication with an individual chamber means disposed beneaththe-reflective surface; and' an individual digital code element illumination means in a lamp chamberportionof each chamber means to selectively supply to each said chamber means illumination which is visible tothe camera through saidaperture;

each said chamber means having anonreflective chamber portion defined'by wall members at least;

some of which are substantially nonreflective so as to besubstantially nonreflective of any said surface directed illumination which enters said chamber means through said apertureso that each said aperture appears to the camera as a dark;

3, wherein said nonreflec- 5 6 said lamp chamber portion is disposed beneath said to cause rays of any surface directed illumination nonreflective chamber portion in optical alignand entering said nonreflective chamber portion ment with said aperture; and through said aperture to strike said nonreflective said'nonreflective chamber portion is separated from WaliS- and a d lu na ion transmissive aid lamp hambe ti b an ill i i member in at least sufficient measure that said an i i mb aperture appears to the camera to be without illu- 7. Ap aratus as in l ir- 6,- h i I mination when said digital code element illuminasaid illumination transmissive member is disposed n means m 531d lamp chamber inopel'ativebeneath said surface a distance which is sufficient v l0 

1. Apparatus for producing a selective optical pattern matrix presentation of coded digital data at a surface having illumination impinging thereon comprising: said surface having a plurality of apertures defining an optical pattern matrix presenting area on said surface and within the illumination impinging area of said surface, an individual chamber means in optical communication with each said aperture, each chamber means comprising a nonreflective chamber portion defined by wall members at least some of which are substantially nonreflective to minimize reflection out of said aperture of any surface impinging illumination which enters said aperture, and illumination means contained in each chamber means within a lamp chamber portion in optical communication with said chamber means nonreflective portion to selectively supply illumination thereto which is visible at said surface through said aperture when said illumination is lit, said selective supply of illumination and lack thereof at said surface for each chamber means enabling the selective optical pattern to be presented at said surface.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said surface is substantially reflective of illumination which impinges thereon.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1, whErein said lamp chamber portion is separated from said nonreflective chamber portion by an illumination transmissive member.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said nonreflective chamber portion is disposed beneath said surface in optical alignment with said aperture; and said lamp chamber portion is disposed beneath said nonreflective chamber portion in optical alignment with said aperture.
 5. In an apparatus for making a record of data together with a selective pattern matrix of digital code elements and including a reflective surface for receiving data to be recorded along with said digital code matrix, a camera located a distance spaced from the reflective surface and directed toward the reflective surface for record making purposes, and a source of illumination directed toward the surface to illuminate the data, the improvement comprising: said reflective surface having a plurality of apertures therein at a location corresponding to the matrix of digital code elements to be recorded by the camera from said reflective surface; each said aperture being in optical communication with an individual chamber means disposed beneath the reflective surface; and an individual digital code element illumination means in a lamp chamber portion of each chamber means to selectively supply to each said chamber means illumination which is visible to the camera through said aperture; each said chamber means having a nonreflective chamber portion defined by wall members at least some of which are substantially nonreflective so as to be substantially nonreflective of any said surface directed illumination which enters said chamber means through said aperture so that each said aperture appears to the camera as a dark digital code element in contrast with the reflective surface when said digital code element illumination means for that aperture is inoperative and so that said aperture appears to the camera as a lighted digital code substantially nondiscernible in contrast with the reflective surface when the digital code element illumination means for that aperture is operative to supply illumination to said chamber means.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein: said nonreflective chamber portion is disposed beneath said reflective surface in optical alignment with said aperture; said lamp chamber portion is disposed beneath said nonreflective chamber portion in optical alignment with said aperture; and said nonreflective chamber portion is separated from said lamp chamber portion by an illumination transmissive member.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said illumination transmissive member is disposed beneath said surface a distance which is sufficient to cause rays of any surface directed illumination and entering said nonreflective chamber portion through said aperture to strike said nonreflective walls and not said illumination transmissive member in at least sufficient measure that said aperture appears to the camera to be without illumination when said digital code element illumination means in said lamp chamber is inoperative. 